1967 Map of Keystone

About this map

Elkhorn Creek winds through a dense corridor of coal-country settlements, providing the primary arterial for the Norfolk and Western railroad during this mid-century period. The map documents an intensive industrial landscape where mining operations are etched into the steep hillsides of Shawnee Mtn and Barkers Ridge. Tight-knit communities like Keystone, Northfork, and Vivian are squeezed into the narrow valley floor, showing the remarkable density of life and labor required by the local economy. In the heights above the river, family landmarks and spiritual centers such as Rotenberry Cem and Mt Ebenezer Ch stand on the ridges, removed from the industrial activity below. The 1976 revisions highlight the continuing evolution of land use, particularly in the extensive strip mines that contour the elevations near McDowell and Worth.